The Reconstruction of Nodes

Runes Monograph #1402

by Chrysanthe Tychon, Novice Runesman 1st class

Abstract

With the final Node of the continent finally under Parcadian control and the output of its mined Runes to be significantly hampered by social and technological factors, it has become increasingly neccessary to rehabilitate the nodes that are currently under Parcadian control. This work is based on the findings of the ten-year study funded by the Runic Council to find new sources of Runes and runic energy.

By rehabilitating existing Node resources with modern runic materials, there is promise that the existing nodes can become a farmed sustainable resource, as opposed to a mined single-use resource.

Historical references to Runic Energy

Smithson's debunked Theory of Runic Energy (E_r) states that there is a fixed amount of energy that can be produced from a single rune. The development of Recharging post-Unification supposes that the Rune is not the source of the energy, only a bucket or container that is used to hold the energy. Daphne and Cawes' research into energy sources led to the discovery of Channels and the Nodal Location model, which has been used to discover several unknown and unpeopled Nodes across the continent. Their original theories proposed the Nodal Location model was like branches on a tree, with Central Parcadia being its trunk, or like a spider's web with each Node located at the knot of its silk. The unification of Helenskep was the first major failure of the Channel and Node model. The recent study investigated how the Nodal Location model failed when it came to the center of the Node and how much runic output would be expected.

Comparison of Channels and Rivers

Modern Mortar - Silt in a Channel

Referring to the River Model, a Rune that has lost the ability to charge is like a cask whose bung has been blocked with mud - the energy is unable to enter the rune due to the unseen Silt impeding its flow, however with enough energy the Silt can be dislodged.

Infusion of Mortar Oolites vs Recharging Natural Oolites

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inset: charts comparing size of Oolite, quality of mortar, length of infusion, and E_r

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Lessons of Farming and Animal Husbandry

<snip>Field rotation, crop rotation

Conclusion

Current Rune construction is unsustainable at its current volume. Modern Mortar techniques have been used to build small Oolites successfully and repair damaged runes. Expansion into using slag, malformed and damaged runes to infuse overmined nodes via the procedures discussed will lead to a significant increase in Rune output without affecting overall quality of Runes. Rotating areas of reconstruction with areas of mining will allow time for the infusion process to reach complete E_r before mining.